Net wisdom

THE Internet is a source of much information, and some wisdom too. Here are some of the parables, specially selected for our young readers, which are currently doing the rounds on the Internet:

Smoke signal

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions.

But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky.

The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger.

"God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.

"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.

"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.

A love story

Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others including Love. One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all repaired their boats and left.

Love wanted to persevere until the last possible moment. When the island was almost sinking, Love decided to ask for help.

Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat.

Love said: "Richness, can you take me with you?"

Richness answered: "No, I can’t. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you."

Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel. "Vanity, please help me!"

"I can’t help you Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat," Vanity answered.

Sadness was close by so Love asked for help: "Sadness, let me go with you."

Sadness replied: "Oh....Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!"

Happiness passed by Love too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her!

Suddenly, there was a voice: "Come Love, I will take you." It was an elder. Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that he even forgot to ask the elder his name. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went his own way.

Love, realising how much he owed the elder, asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who helped me?"

"It was Time," Knowledge answered. "

Time?" asked Love.

"But why did Time help me?"

Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered: "Because, only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is."

— Roopinder Singh